The Record-Review – The official newspaper of Bedford and Pound Ridge, New York

June 24, 2011

Graduate, meet economy

Remember when the popular phrase was to “think out of the box”? The way we see it, the box has pretty much been torn open and pulled into recycled cardboard.

The tightening job market is striking not only grads but teens as well: only one in four youths ages 16 to 19 is expected to find work this summer. In 2000, by comparison, 45 percent of teenagers worked.

Financial aid is shrinking, incomes stagnant, and tuitions rising. Four-year students typically graduate with about $24,000 in student debt, while physicians graduating medical school owe an average of $155,000. In an uncertain economy, getting burdened with high debt is the last thing a struggling 20-something needs.

Future grads will be more targeted in their career goals, holding colleges and even high schools accountable for helping achieve those goals. Students, along with their parents, will be more savvy about financial aid and low-interest loan opportunities, and more students may have to juggle jobs and classes to make ends meet.

Despite the difficulties, the creative choices made by graduating college seniors are inspiring. When the economy tightened its grip in 2008 and jobs got scarce, young people turned their sights to political activism, careers in music and the arts, and even athletics, as coach or pro. In recent months we’ve heard of young grads taking careers as whitewater rafting guides, chefs, craft brewers, founders of social media companies, Peace Corps worker, Hollywood production assistant, Marine recruit, anti-human trafficking activist, Coast Guard recruit, firefighter recruit, political aspirant. It will never get tiring to read about a young’s person’s mission to a flood-ravaged area, animal rescue, or pursuit of a medical career.

What makes these choices more extraordinary is the creativity displayed in the midst of a tightening job market. For first-time job seekers, unemployment insurance is not an option when looking for a job, and family support usually diminishes, if it is available at all.

Success stories are driven by a positive attitude and an open mind; obstacles made to be overcome. To that end, education remains a privilege. And while education’s merit as a vocational guide is unquestioned, let’s never forget its value as a reward in itself.

A special shout-out

Fox Lane High School is well ahead of preparing students for the Real World.

In 2006, ASPIRE intern Adina Fischer wrote: “Warning! Have you seen students in the daytime working? If so, do not be alarmed, because these are senior interns from Fox Lane High School who are part of the ASPIRE program.”

This is now the sixth year for ASPIRE, which stands for “A Senior Program for Internships, Research, Exploration.”

Two of this spring’s Record-Review interns, representing the school’s work/study ASPIRE program, graduated this week. Oliver Friedman and Jacob Blau spent their last eight weeks of high school working with the newspaper, developing their skills as young journalists — skills that will pay off no matter what career they endeavor to pursue.